I'll illustrate how much they are hurting.

I ordered $267 of goods off a dot.com website I assumed was American. No way to see otherwise.

Goods arrive from INDIA. Crap. NOT what I ordered. email off and get the Indian names on replies telling me to place next order and THEN it will be fixed. HA!

Mail back goods. Write ANZ and ask the $267 be overturned as goods crap, merchant doesn't want to rectify, and all goods mailed back. In OZ Visa and MC are useless at this.

ANZ write me saying: "no can do - take it up with Merchant and Dept Fair Trading" (HA - when merchant is in INDIA!!!)

I write back and say UNLESS the overturn the $267 they can cut up my card and credit me back this years fees and I will stick with Amex. "As I am am spending $20,000 in recent months with Amex already due to THEIR better Qantas bonus miles deal, and due to all the other mad ANZ cut backs and sneaky imposts lately."

Noticed on my on line Statement today there is a credit for $267.

A year back they would NEVER have bent over on this one.

In contrast I queried Foxtel on $208 of accounts. They ignored me. Phone them and they laughed basically. Contacted Amex who immediately overturned them, and told Foxtel to go jump basically. I have always found Amex stand behind you. Visa and MC (in OZ at least) seldom do.

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~ Glen ~ sipping bubbly from UA 747-400 exit row 15A near you SOON!